Just Let me Work!

When we were moving house from America to the UK this past Summer we hired a local guy and his two workers to come and help us pack up our container of furniture and boxes that we were sending across the Atlantic. The day the men and the container arrived our house was all boxed up, with furniture taped up and protected - ready to be loaded. These strong guys we had hired soon set to work lifting our furniture and loading the container, as though they were lifting little toys off the floor. They were so strong and used to this kind of work. Not really thinking about it, but not being one to simply stand and watch - I decided I would help load some of the smaller items. I meant well and thought I was helping out - doing my bit - but it soon became clear all I was really doing was getting in the way! After a few minutes of causing chaos, the main guy came to me and said really nicely “Miss, don’t worry about trying to help. Just let us work”.

The last few weeks I have thought about this so much. Sometimes standing by and having to watch other people struggle with loads and work through things is really tough. My natural instinct is always to want to help. To try and fix it, to make it better. Yet many times we can’t fix it for other people (or even ourselves), and, when we try to, we simply end up causing chaos, or maybe even getting in the way of what God is doing!

It’s hard to watch the ones we love struggle. Our youngest son, Isaac, recently broke his arm and needed an operation to realign it. All I wanted to do was rescue him and save him from needing an operation and all the natural discomfort and anxiety of being in hospital and having his arm in a sling. Yet I couldn’t, and Andy couldn’t - all we could do was keep praying and trusting him to the Lord. He had to go through what he had to go through, and Andy and I had to trust God to do HIs work as we committed Isaac to Him.

It’s not easy, and doesn`t come naturally, to let go and let God work. Maybe you are like me and feel frustrated when you can’t fix it. Watching loved ones walk away from God and not being able to whack them over the head with their need of Him, drives me nuts. Not being able to shield my loved ones from all hurt, disappointments or struggles is horrible! As much as I would like, I can’t heal the body and make it well, and there are times I so wish I could! Like it or not, with the best will in the world, there will be times in our lives when we are faced with not having the perfect answer or the perfect solution. At those times the enemy would love to flood our hearts with despair. Yet if we will only wait and listen another voice is beckoning us - quietly, but strong - the voice of the Lord speaks into our helplessness and despair with the words of today’s Psalm: "Trust Me. Wait for me. Just let me work. Hope in Me, because your victory comes from me. Pour out your heart to Me, for I am your refuge”.

It doesn’t matter what it is that is heavy on your heart today for the people you love and care about, or maybe it is the burden of your own circumstances that you simply can’t fix - God hears the cries of our hearts and be assured HE IS WORKING! Hand over to the Lord the burdens and cares you are carrying and know He won’t ever let you down.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are situations and people in my life, that I care deeply about, who need a touch from You. There are struggles that I want to fix and yet I can’t, Lord. Today I give those cares to You and I entrust those people that I love into Your hands and I let You work. I release myself from the false burden of needing to fix it, whether I carry it because I have put it on myself, or the enemy has deceived me into carrying it. I say today, Lord, that I will wait on You and let You work in this situation. I will rest, knowing You are doing what only You can do. Thank You for caring about what I care about, Lord, and thank You for never letting me down. I love You, Lord Jesus. Amen.